B. THE BASIS FOR OUR HOPE LIES IN THE ABUNDANCE OF GOD’S MERCY

3. Mercy bestowed continually upon Christians as they repent of and confess their sins – 1 John 1:9

II. BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!

A. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS CRUCIAL TO OUR HOPE

1. If Christ is not risen, then the apostles were liars, and our faith is vain! – 1 Corinthians 15:14-15

2. If Christ is not risen, we are still held guilty for our sins, no forgiveness has occurred – 1 Corinthians 15:17

3. If Christ is not risen, those who have died as Christians have perished, they are lost – 1 Corinthians 15:18

4. If Christ has not risen, then we do not have a living hope, instead we are to be pitied by others! – 1 Corinthians 15:19

B. BUT THROUGH JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE

1. Peter may have reference not just to the process of conversion, but to the renewed hope produced by the resurrection of Jesus

a. After Jesus’ death and prior to His resurrection, the disciples were despondent

b. But after the resurrection of Jesus, His disciples were born again in regards to their hope

2. Surely the fact that Jesus did rise gives us reason for a living hope

a. God would not raise a liar, so anything Jesus said about our hope is true – John 11:25

b. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we have a firm hope that we too will one day rise from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:20-23

c. By the abundant mercy of God, and upon the basis of Jesus’ own resurrection, then, we have been born again to a living hope!

III. BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF OUR INHERITANCE!

A. THE DEGREE OF HOPE WE HAVE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE INHERITANCE WE HAVE

1. If our inheritance is a good one, our hope is strong, or living

2. If our inheritance is a poor one, then our hope is weak, or dead

B. AS DESCRIBED BY PETER, OUR INHERITANCE

1. IS INCORRUPTIBLE

a. The Greek word means not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable

b. Unlike this present heavens and earth in which now live, and which will one day be destroyed – 2 Peter 3:10-13

2. IS UNDEFILED

a. The Greek word means not defiled, unsoiled

b. It is unlike the earthly Canaan, which could be and was defiled by its inhabitants

c. Our hope pertains to that where the defiled are not allowed to enter – Revelation 21:27

3. DOES NOT FADE AWAY

a. The Greek word means unfading, perennial

b. Such is our heavenly reward: it will not rust, fade, or wither like so many things do here on earth

4. IT IS RESERVED IN HEAVEN

a. The word means to watch, to observe, to guard, protect, to reserve, set aside

b. Therefore, our inheritance is safely guarded in heaven itself!

c. No one, not even Satan himself, can steal it from you!

C. Since this is the nature of our inheritance upon which our hope rests, we can see why our hope is described as a living hope.

IV. BECAUSE WE ARE SAFELY GUARDED!

A. CHRISTIANS ARE KEPT FOR THE SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME

1. The word kept is a military term

2. It means to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight

3. While our inheritance is being kept guarded in heaven under the watchful eye of God, we are being garrisoned about by God’s protecting care for it.

B. NOTE THAT BEING KEPT INVOLVES TWO THINGS

1. First, THE POWER OF GOD!

a. We have the help of God Himself, who knows how to help those in temptation

b. He knows how to deliver them out of temptation – 2 Peter 2:9

c. He knows how to enable them to bear with the temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13

d. He supplies the armor necessary to withstand in the evil day – Ephesians 6:10-13

2. Also, OUR FAITH!

a. To be safely guarded by God’s protective care requires faith on our part

b. The only way we can ever lose our inheritance reserved in heaven is to become unfaithful to the Lord! – Revelation 2:10

c. While the Bible teaches the security of the believer

1) It also teaches that a believer can become an unbeliever – Hebrews 3:12-13

2) And it teaches that unbelievers have no hope – Hebrews 3:14-4:3

d. As long as we remain faithful, then, we have the assurance of God’s protective care to guide us until we receive that inheritance reserved in heaven for us!

Conclusion

1. In this passage (1 Peter 1:3-5), then, are four reasons why the hope of the Christian is called a living hope:

a. Because God is merciful!

b. Because Jesus is alive!

c. Because of the nature of our inheritance!

d. Because we are safely guarded!

2. A living hope can be a source of great joy in the lives of Christians; it certainly was to the original recipients of Peter’s epistle: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. – 1 Peter 1:6

3. Do you have this living hope?

a. You do if you have received God’s mercy offered in Christ, and are remaining faithful to the Lord

b. If you have not received this mercy, or have neglected it through unfaithfulness, why not come to the Lord according to His conditions found in His Holy Word? – Acts 2:38; 1 John 1:9